There's really not much to do around there except sit around at cafes or shop. There also seems to be some organized crime at work there, because it seems like there are a lot of drugs going around the place. There's also a big tourist rip-off scheme at work there...it's pretty elaborate. Here's how it works:
The bait:
Some guy comes up to you and tells you he's a brahmin (hindu priest)...he's dressed pretty normally, but shows you a string from under his shirt that's supposed to be proof that he's a priest. He asks you to drop the water in the lake because it's a holy place. You take the flower and head down to the lake via one of the 52 ghats (or series of steps) and starts the supposed blessing ritual.
The hook:
He then has this kit of flower petals, rice grains, and red paint. He begins a mantra or chant that you're supposed to repeat. The ritual involves a lot of repitition, water, throwing the petals in the water, etc. At this point, he pretty much has you and now he asks you to pledge a donation. Whatever amount you say, he will tell you to give much more...in US dollars or euros. If you resist, he will say something about it being bad karma. When you agree...he then goes into another repitition and water and blessing ritual. Then he will double the amount you had said previously, because the intial donation was for a charity, and now the second one is for him because he's a priest and has no work and this is how he supports his family. You will probably agree at this point even if you don't like it.
Then he says thank you...another blessing ritual. Then he places the red hindu welcome mark on your forehead and ties a string around your wrist to show that you have already been blessed.
The Sinker:
He now asks you to had over the money you pledged. Half of it then goes to the supposed charity guy and he keeps the rest. Then they send you on your way and thanking you. You walk around pushkar and all of a sudden every street vendor, beggar, and store keeper are asking you to come in and buy something. The mark on your forehead is apparently a big sucker sign.
I thought that I was pretty street smart at this point, but I fell for this scheme and ended up giving $10 canadian. Others I know got taken for $25 US. I'm pretty sure that there's an organized crime element in the area that's behind all the drugs and these schemes. Once you accept that initial offering of the flower, you submit your will to theirs and your done. They're really good at what they do and the whole setup is slick and elaborate.
It's a shame that it happens in such a holy place. You can go to the Brahma temple, drop a flower in the lake, and get similar sort of blessing with no pressure for a donation. The only money you hand over is what you are willing to donate and you put that yourself into a donation box. I was already turned off by the whole place so I never went to the temple, but I've been told that that's the proper way that things should be done.
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There's also a large Israeli presence in Pushkar. The story goes that a lot Israeli soldiers that finish their tour of duty leave Israel and go to Pushkar to find a spiritual experience. I also saw some rabbis there who apparently go there to try and bring those soldiers back into the fold of Judaism.
There are a lot of other people trying to find God or themselves in Pushkar...it seemed like a hippie commune at times. All in all, I just had a bad vibe about the place. If anyone plans to go to Pushkar, go for the camel fair or go just for a day...not more.
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